BC stepmom to pay $5,000 for sharing nude photos of partner’s ex-wife

A BC woman being sued for $5,000 for sharing intimate images of her partner’s ex-wife argued she shouldn’t have to pay as the ex posts “half nude” photos of herself on social media anyway.

The woman also pointed out that she’s also the stepmom to the victim’s children to whom she contributes financially so shouldn’t have to pay.

The details are laid out in an April 10 BC Civil Resolution Tribunal where the victim sued her ex-husband’s new partner for sending the intimate images of her on Facebook messenger.

The decision said the woman being sued, referred to only as TC, is “essentially” the victim’s children’s stepmom.

The two women have a “contentious relationship” which predates the sharing of the photos.

The decision said between July 2022 and January 2023 the victim took three intimate photos of herself and sent them to her then-husband.

Almost a year later the now ex-husband shared the photos with his partner TC.

In turn, TC then shared the photos with the victim’s new partner. She also sent messages saying she’d sent the photos to the victim’s partner’s friends and family.

The decision said TC was later charged and criminally convicted and received probation, community service and a no-contact order.

The victim then took her to the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal arguing for $5,000 in compensation. Last year, the province established the Intimate Images Protection Act allowing victims easier access to sue for up to $5,000 through the Civil Resolution Tribunal.

The victim said she experienced “embarrassment, shame, and mental distress” after her ex-husband’s partner shared the images. She also feared the images would continue to be shared and took time off work due to stress. 

However, TC said she was “confused” about what harm sharing the photos had done.

“She says the (victim) posts other images of herself ‘half nude’ on Instagram,” the decision read.

The Tribunal didn’t buy it.

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“I find that even if the (victim) chose to post other images on social media that the (TC) describes as ‘half nude,’ (it) does not mean (she) consents to any nude image of her being shared,” the Tribunal said. “The non-consensual disclosure of an intimate image is a serious violation of a person’s privacy.”

TC also argued as she was the stepmom to the victim’s kids she had provided “significant” financial support to the victim’s children over the years.

The argument was shot down as “irrelevant.”

The Tribunal said that while sharing the intimate photos with the victim’s current romantic partner was likely not particularly upsetting, TC had shared the photos with another person, although it wasn’t clear who, and made threats to share them with others.

Ultimately, the Tribunal ordered TC to pay the victim $5,000 in compensation for causing mental distress and embarrassment.

She was given 30 days to pay.